TOWN OF WALPOLE

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

OCTOBER 04, 2007

Selectmen Present:            Charles Miller, Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney Aldrich

Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. with one person present in the audience.

PUBLIC BUSINESS:

JOAN DeVAULT – RE: PLAYGROUND:  Joan DeVault, Chair of the Recreation Committee, brought the Board of Selectmen up-to-date on proposed plans for a new playground in the park area.  The Board of Selectmen confirmed their support to have a Warrant Article for this project at the next Town Meeting.  If a contract is signed to hold the price it would be contingent upon a favorable Town vote.  The committee chose the benches they would like to purchase for the park.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and manifest in the amount of $477,008.14.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

The above amount includes a monthly payment to the Fall Mountain Region School District in the amount of $434,569.77.

PAYROLL:  Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending September 29, 2007, for gross wages in the amount of $18,346.16 or net wages in the amount of $9,698.43.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the electronic fund transfer for the Withholding, MEDI and FICA

taxes in the amount of $4,248.66.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.       

MINUTES –SELECTMEN’S MEETING- SEPTEMBER 27, 2007:  The Board of Selectmen discussed the motion made on page 1 under Walpole Old Home Days during the September 27, 2007, meeting.  Reference was made to Article 23 as voted for during the Town Meeting March 14, 2006, that read as follows:  “To see if the Town will vote to establish an Old Home Day Fund and allow any donations to be kept in this fund as well as any budgeted monies from the town.  Old Home Days committee shall be designated Agents and shall keep the necessary accounting.  The Trustees of Trust Funds shall administer this fund”. 

Mr. Sawyer moved that this terminology be included in the minutes as it was not up to the Board of Selectmen to have made this motion.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Minutes of the public Board of Selectmen’s meeting of September 27, 2007, with the following deletion:    

Page 1 – Walpole Old Home Days – delete the following motion “Mr. Aldrich moved to release the funding for the Walpole Old Home Days in the amount of $3,000 to Judy Trow”.   

Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Board of Selectmen received and reviewed the Minutes of the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting of September 19, 2007.

Board of Selectmen Meeting – October 04, 2007 – Page 2

OLD BUSINESS:

ALLEN BROTHERS FUEL:  Mr. Miller read a letter received from Allen Brothers relative to the new environmental regulations.  The Board of Selectmen passed over this agenda item until next week to allow time to have the contract re-written.

ATTORNEY HOCKENSMITH LETTER – REF: BERKSHIRE-WALPOLE LLC:  There was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen that all the information relative to the Berkshire-Walpole LLC matter will be forwarded to Attorney Hockensmith.

FORMER JAIL PROPERTY:  The Board of Selectmen asked Elaine Moore to extend an invitation to William Borchers to attend the next meeting to discuss the former jail property.

NEW BUSINESS:

JIM TERRELL – VACATION TIME:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve vacation time from October 15th to 26th, 2007, for Jim Terrell.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

CARTOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATES, INC.:  Mr. Aldrich moved to renew the Cartographic Associates, Inc. annual contract for maintenance on the tax maps.  Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.  All in favor, so voted.

TOWN HALL RENTAL QUESTION:   A request was received to rent the upstairs of the Town Hall for a contra dance on December 9th, 2007.   

Mr. Sawyer moved to pass over taking any action on this request until the Board of Selectmen has more information.  The person interested in renting will be asked to attend the next meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted. 

POSSIBLE HEALTH ISSUE:  A complaint was received from a resident in the Good Circle area to have something done about a possible health issue on a neighboring property.  There was a consensus of the Board of Selectmen to visit the property.

SEMINAR:  Mr. Sawyer moved that the Board of Selectmen authorize Elaine Moore to have compensatory time off in exchange for attending a Saturday meeting on “Preparing for a Successful Town Meeting”.   Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

LETTERS TO BE SIGNED:

COLD RIVER MATERIALS:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Cold River Materials regarding their assessment.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

BERNARD KARNACEWICZ:  Mr. Sawyer moved to approve and sign the letter to Bernard Karnacewicz.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich.  All in favor, so voted.

Board of Selectmen Meeting – October 04, 2007 – Page 3

Mr. Sawyer moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Aldrich and, with all in favor, the motion was approved.  The time was 9:08 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary